G. Clifton Wisler (1950–2006)
Author of Mr. Lincoln’s Drummer
About the Author
Author G. Clifton Wisler was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has written over 60 books, many of which are historical fiction works for young adults. He currently lives in Plano, Texas. (Bowker Author Biography)
Series
Works by G. Clifton Wisler
The Drummer Boy of Vicksbirg 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Wisler, Gary Clifton
- Birthdate
- 1950-05-15
- Date of death
- 2006-04-07
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of North Texas
- Occupations
- teacher
- Organizations
- Boy Scouts of America
Western Writers of America
Authors Guild
Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church - Awards and honors
- Spur Award for Best Juvenile
Spur Award for Best Original Paperback Novel - Short biography
- [excerpted from Dallas Morning News online obituary]
Wisler attended Hillcrest High School, where he wrote sports and editorials for the Hillcrest Hurricane. Wisler took that interest to Southern Methodist University. A journalism major who served four years on the sports staff of the SMU Daily Campus, he worked part time his senior year for the Dallas Morning News. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in journalism, Wisler taught journalism and sponsored the school newspaper and yearbook at Denton High School the following year. He then returned to SMU, where he received his Master of Arts in English and Education.
Wisler taught English and served as publications advisor at Ben Jackson Middle School in Garland, Texas. Years of sharing stories led his students to encourage him to attempt his first novel. Doubleday published that book, My Brother the Wind.
Wisler left the classroom in order to devote all his time to writing. Except for a brief return to teaching in 1986 at Bowman Middle School in Plano, Texas, his primary focus became writing and speaking to school, educational, and literary groups.
Wisler published 73 books (over 2 million copies published in 5 different languages), Wisler also wrote over 25 short stories and articles for Boy's Life magazine. He was nominated for several Book Awards, a finalist for the Western Writers of America "Spur Award" 8 times, winning twice. In 2001 the International Reading Association awarded him the Paul A. Witty Prize for Best Juvenile Short Story for "The Orange Armband". - Cause of death
- heart attack
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Places of residence
- Plano, Texas, USA
- Burial location
- Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Texas, USA
Members
Reviews
Sam Delamer was a powerful man who had built a large ranch on the backs of others including his family. neighbours and the local Comanche tribe. This meant he was feared and hated by almost everyone including his brother Willie who he had years earlier had contracted a killer to eliminate. The hit failed but Willie just remained out of sight for many years until he married a widow with four boys who he wished to raised close to his roots.
Although he tried to stay out of his brother's way, show more Willie could not watch him murder and abuse innocent farmers. While this is the basic conflict, almost everyone in the novel including his own son's, suffer because of the self serving actions of Sam. A fast moving, difficult novel to put down. show less
Although he tried to stay out of his brother's way, show more Willie could not watch him murder and abuse innocent farmers. While this is the basic conflict, almost everyone in the novel including his own son's, suffer because of the self serving actions of Sam. A fast moving, difficult novel to put down. show less
Wisler presents a view of the westward movement that I have never read about before. The family moves from Tennessee to Texas---not the normal St Louis westward. The route has different problems, including the swamps (instead of the desert). He introduced my boys to a bit of history through this family's journey. Although the father's tough, get-it-done approach to assigning chores to the boys gave an appearance of a non-caring father, the author gave glimpses that allowed the reader to see show more the heart underneath the toughness. The trials showed how the brothers could help each other to become stronger men. The teasing and badgering reflected the boys' light view on life inspire of the hardships.
My boys enjoyed it. show less
My boys enjoyed it. show less
Ransom J. Powell was a 12 year old boy when he joined The Union Army as a drummer boy. Small even for a 12 year old, relatively well-educated and sweet, the men of his unit adopt him as a mascot. When he is captured and sent to Andersonville he is adopted by an additional unit: the Rebel Alabama unit guarding the POW camp. They share their food with him, get him a decent uniform and get him out of the camp from time to time. When they are transferred back to the front they arrange that show more Ransom should work in Captain Wirz’s office. When Ransom’s maps out of the camp are discovered by Wirz he is returned to the camp. Of the 20 men of his unit, he is the only one to live through Andersonville. This had a slow beginning, but was surprisingly effective. After all the things that happened to Ranny, when Union guards pull off his Red Cap so it can be burned, I cried, just like he did.
Bought at the Andersonville Gift Shop show less
Bought at the Andersonville Gift Shop show less
Caleb is a 13 year old privileged boy in Texas going to a nice private academy. When his father falls on hard times and everything is taken away, he is sent to live with relatives for a while. First with a snooty aunt, and then with a hard-working grandmother who runs an inn. There he befriends Edith, an older cousin who he has never met, and Michah, a ridiculously superstitious hired hand about his age.
When Caleb nearly drowns in a flash flood, he is saved by an escaped slave, and if forced show more to question his own attitudes towards slaves and slavery.
The second half of the book is fairly good, once it gets to the point of the story. There doesn't seem to be any reason for Caleb to have grown up in a wealthy home and school, and indeed after the first chapter, he never behaves as though he did. The short stay with the stuffy aunt is completely irrelevant to the story, as is the seemingly endless chatter about Michah's infinite superstitions. show less
When Caleb nearly drowns in a flash flood, he is saved by an escaped slave, and if forced show more to question his own attitudes towards slaves and slavery.
The second half of the book is fairly good, once it gets to the point of the story. There doesn't seem to be any reason for Caleb to have grown up in a wealthy home and school, and indeed after the first chapter, he never behaves as though he did. The short stay with the stuffy aunt is completely irrelevant to the story, as is the seemingly endless chatter about Michah's infinite superstitions. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 70
- Members
- 1,886
- Popularity
- #13,643
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 13
- ISBNs
- 159
- Languages
- 1